Locks and questions when it comes to the Oregon State 2020 recruiting class

Locks and questions when it comes to the Oregon State 2020 recruiting class

Starting on Wednesday, December 18, high school athletes across the country will sign his or her letter of intent for the next four years or so of their academic and athletic career.

The Oregon State Beavers currently hold the No. 46 2020 recruiting class and No. 8 in the Pac-12 Conference, according to 247 Sports. The Beavs are prepared to sign their highest rated signing class since the 2013 season.

Here is a breakdown of the locks, long-shots and everything in-between looking at the future of the Oregon State football program.

LOCKS:

QB Chance Nolan - The 6-foot-2, 186 pound JUCO transfer quarterback will be eligible right away and plans to enroll in January to compete with Gebbia for the starting job left behind by Jake Luton.

Isaiah Hodgins’ NFL dreams came true when the Buffalo Bills selected him in the sixth round (No. 207 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Despite now leaving his four-year home in Corvallis, Oregon and heading 2,652.4 miles east to Buffalo, New York, Hodgins will have a little sense of home.

Current Bills safety and former Oregon State Beaver Jordan Poyer.

I called him the night he got drafted just to congratulate him and tell him ‘If you need anything man, just let me know.’ I remember what it was like being a rookie, especial now its probably harder than ever because they’re not able to get acclimated to their system and be around their coaches and guys. — Jordan Poyer

Poyer wreaked havoc on the Pac-12 Conference during his four-year career in Corvallis, Oregon from 2009-12.

He was named a consensus All-America selection as a senior, the first at Oregon State since John Didion in 1967, and was tied for second in the nation with seven interceptions as a senior. Poyer started 24 games in the Beavers’ secondary.

The eight-year veteran was originally selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. After a short stint in Philadelphia and then Cleveland, Poyer came to the Bills through free agency in 2017. He posted 71 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and once sack in 2019.

Now, he may have the chance to go up against Hodgins in New York.

What a player. Huge redone threat, huge catch radius. He can run almost all the routes. When you get a guy like that who’s hungry, who’s young and hungry, and wants to come in and learn… and understand what it takes to be in the NFL. — Jordan Poyer

Hodgins will get to learn from six-year pro Stefon Diggs, who recorded 63 receptions for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns last season with the Minnesota Vikings. The Bills traded their first-round, a fifth and sixth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft along with a 2021 fourth-round pick in exchange for Diggs and a 2020 seventh-round pick.

Diggs and nine-year veteran Cole Beasley are likely the two main targets for third-year quarterback Josh Allen, but Hodgins could turn some heads should he have a good showing when training camps safely resume play.

Be sure to check out the full Talkin’ Beavers Podcast with host Ron Callan and former Oregon State Beaver Jordan Poyer.

The 6-foot-6, 236-pound tight end from Mt. Angel, Oregon was about to enter his second season at Oregon State.

Some of his teammates responded on social media:

I see a JUSTIFICATION not an apology. I’m not hearing it bro, and I truly pray that God removes all that hate from your heart. I pray that God gives you the ability educate yourself about racism and not simply say “I am in no way shape or form a racist” God bless you @RoccoCarleyhttps://t.co/APxJxfRY1j

Lmao @RoccoCarley where was all this talking out your neck around me and the rest of yo teammates? You wouldn’t dare in front of NOBODY BLACK. Please don’t come back around me with that shit. https://t.co/LK6g9aVS2o

Jordan Poyer 'itching to get back' but also valuing safety

Jordan Poyer 'itching to get back' but also valuing safety

Many people miss football including former Oregon State Beaver, now Buffalo Bill Jordan Poyer.

"Obviously I'm itching to get back," said Poyer on the Talkin' Beavers Podcast this week with host Ron Callan. "I want to be with my guys I want to be grinding in the offseason. Getting better, you know, to carry forward into the season."

But it's not that simple. With the United States still undergoing a national pandemic due to COVID-19, many offseason programs have been halted for player safety.

Is it worth coming back, if they were to say 'You guys can come back next week' is it worth coming back at that point for two weeks risking somebody getting sick and then having to come back again for training camp? - Jordan Poyer

Poyer noted that the safety of his family also needs to be taken into account. Bringing players back and forth could increase the risk of spreading the virus which would may not be worth it.

"Uncertainty. I think that's everywhere. Not just in the NFL. With everything going on in the world right now, that's just the question.

"Now I have a 3.5-year old so I'm worrying about health risks, traveling and guys coming from different places," said Poyer.

The former Beaver signed a two-year extension with the Bills worth approximately $20.5 million this offseason.

"We want to play, obviously. It's just going to be decisions made by people that probably make a lot more than I do. "

In 2019, the safety had a career-season totaling 107 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions, helping lead the Bills to their second playoff appearance in three seasons.

Entering the NFL, Poyer fell to the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft despite being a consensus All-American his senior season at Oregon State with seven interceptions. He signed a four-year, $2.22 million contract with the team that drafted him, the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, the Eagles would cut him later in 2013 and Cleveland would claim him off of waivers. Poyer was able to win a roster spot in 2013 and 2014 before starting four games in 2015. He began 2016 as the starting safety but a lacerated kidney suffered in Week 6 against the Tennesse Titans ended his season.

In free agency, he signed a four-year, $13 million contract with Buffalo, which included $7.40 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $3.50 million, where he has started all three seasons since.

Listen to the full Talkin' Beavers podcast with Ron Callan and guest Jordan Poyer from the 2016 Final Four squad here.

Jonathan Smith, Wayne Tinkle understand that of which they don't understand

Jonathan Smith, Wayne Tinkle understand that of which they don't understand

With protests breaking out against social injustice and police brutality nationwide, which was sparked by the death of George Floyd while in the hands of Minneapolis police custody, many are speaking out against systematic, racial injustice.

Add two Oregon State head coaches to the list.

Beavers football head coach Jonathan Smith and Beavers basketball head coach Wayne Tinkle released statements over the weekend responding to the death of George Floyd and the activism against police brutality it has sparked, most notably the Black Lives Matter movement.

"As a white man, I will never completely understand the fear and daily experiences that people of color face regularly," wrote Coach Smith.

"The tragedies of the past few weeks have left me hurt, angry, confused; tough to completely describe. What I do know is, over my 20+ years in football, I have worked alongside and coached unbelievable men of color and my heart hurts for them. Change needs to happen. I want to add my voice to so many others that these acts... all acts of racism need to end."

"While trying to wait a few days to come down from the sadness, frustration and anger I felt over the recent atrocities to our black community, I am to realize that day won't come anytime soon," wrote Coach Tinkle.

"I won't pretend to understand what it's like to be a person of color in today's world, I will, however, try to help end the shameful injustices that have become all to commonplace throughout our society.

"I'm standing up to join the millions that are going to find a way to eliminate racism completely, by choosing love, prayer, compassion, respect and understanding over hatred and ignorance!"

George Floyd's death went viral last week after a video showed police officer Derek Chauvin using his knee to pin Floyd's neck to the pavement for eight minutes and 46 seconds, two minutes and 53 seconds of which happened after Floyd became unresponsive, per a criminal complaint against Chauvin.

The officer ignored Floyd's pleas for him to stop: "I can't breathe... Please, the knee in my neck, I can't breathe."

The lack of charges brought upon Chauvin nor the other three officers standing by the Minneapolis Police Department sparked nationwide outrage leading to national protests and riots against police brutality and public pressure to arrest the four officers.

Floyd’s family said in a statement with their attorney, Ben Crump, that they “expected a first-degree murder charge.”

According to Nicquel Terry Ellis of USA Today, an independent autopsy determined that it "was homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain."

This report comes a few days after a complaint from the Hennepin County Attorney stated that "Mr. Floyd had underlying health conditions including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease. The combined effects of Mr. Floyd being restrained by police, his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system likely contributed to his death.”

While both Smith and Tinkle accept that of which they don't understand, both are advocates to put an end to racism and social injustice, something we can all agree on.

Former Oregon State Beaver Mikayla Pivec will sit out the 2020 WNBA season

Former Oregon State Beaver Mikayla Pivec will sit out the 2020 WNBA season

Former Oregon State guard Mikayla Pivec, who was set to enter her WNBA rookie season, has decided to sit out of the 2020 season.

The Atlanta Dream made the announcement on their Twitter page Monday, saying Pivec will not play in the 2020 season due to personal reasons, adding she ‘will be suspended by the Atlanta Dream.’ The Dream’s PR tweet did say the team would welcome Pivec back next season.

Mikayla Pivec has chosen to sit out the 2020 WNBA season for personal reasons and will be suspended by the Atlanta Dream.

Oregon State's all-time leading rebounder and the shortest player in Pac-12 history to haul in 1,000 rebounds was selected by the Atlanta Dream as the 25th overall pick in the 3rd round of this year’s draft.

You try not to worry too much about where you go or what's going to happen. Just know that hopefully God will steer me to the right place, and He will. Enjoy this moment and take it all in and spend time with family... Embrace the journey. -- Mikayla Pivec said ahead of the WNBA Draft in April

Last week, Oregon State secured a commitment from five-star wing Talia Von Oelhoffen: the nation's tenth-ranked prospect for the 2021 class.

This week, the soon-to-be Beaver got some well-deserved praise from former Beaver starter Jamie Weisner on the Talkin' Beavers Podcast.

I actually played with her older sister in AAU days so I knew her since she was maybe five years old and she was just a little girl at the hotel pool. I got an opportunity to reconnect with her a couple of years ago, through a trainer and her mom, so I did a lot of workouts with her. She's just a very nice, mature, kind girl. Works hard and obviously her skills are some of the best in the nation. - Jamie Weisner

Weisner, who was a starter for the Beavers when the program went to its first Final Four in 2016, knows the program well and thinks that Von Oelhoffen will excel in Corvallis under head coach Scott Rueck.

"I think she's like a perfect fit for Oregon State. If all goes well I think she'll come in and do her thing right away so I'm very excited to watch her, especially at Oregon State."

With the graduation of Mikayla Pivec and the transfer of Destiny Slocum, the Beavers' starting backcourt is up for grabs. Senior Aleah Goodman is expected to start at one of the spots, but the other appears to be up for grabs next season.

Mikayla Pivec awarded this year’s Oregon State Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Mikayla Pivec awarded this year’s Oregon State Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Find a student-athlete who demonstrates achievement both on and off the court, in the classroom and in the community and we’ll raise you one Mikayla Pivec.

Pivec, who led the Oregon State women’s basketball team to another phenomenal season in Corvallis, wrapped up her four-year career in orange and black as the program’s leading rebounder; eighth in career scoring; fourth in career assists; a Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American; All-Pac-12; and WBCA, AP and USBWA All-American Honorable Mention.

Presenting this year’s award is her head coach, Scott Rueck:

This award is given to the student-athlete who demonstrates high achievement in the classroom, who is engaged in the everyday champion program and is also active in our local community. — Scott Rueck

The award defines exactly what Pivec has done throughout her four years in Corvallis, Oregon. Not just her accomplishments on the court, but Pivec held the highest GPA on the team while getting her degree in BioHealth Science.

Her drive to help the community was also just as impressive.

According to the Oregon State University Foundation, she decided to do her Honors College thesis project on the challenges homeless people encounter, looking at the resources they use and how they can better be adapted to serve the population. With support from SURE Science, she has been working with Human Development and Family Sciences Professor Kelly Chandler from the College of Public Health and Human Sciences.

SURE Science is a competitive program designed to support summer research opportunities for College of Science undergraduate students.

Mikayla decided to donate part of her SURE Science award to the homeless shelters in Corvallis.

“I was so lucky to have that opportunity – it’s my way of giving back for what was given to me,” said Pivec.

I am so thankful for Mik for all that she’s done for our program, our community, on and off the court. She’s in the career top-10 in several statistical categories at Oregon State and her successes are obviously well-documented. Even more amazing, is how she consistently found ways to make herself and our community better through all of her efforts. For that reason, Mik will go down as one of the greats to ever put on our uniform. Congrats Mik, thank you. I’m so proud of you. — Scott Rueck

The 5-foot-10 guard finished her career averaging 14.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and was selected No. 25 overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream.

Congratulations, Mikayla!

This year's Male recipient of the award is Joel Walker of the Oregon State men's soccer team.

Brandin Cooks and his wife sharing touching pregnancy announcement

Brandin Cooks and his wife sharing touching pregnancy announcement

Six-year veteran Brandin Cooks will be on a new NFL team this season, and he’ll soon add a new title to his resume as well: Father.

Cooks, who was traded to the Houston Texans after two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, recently announced that he and his wife, Briannon, are expecting their first child together.

In a moving tribute on Instagram, the former Oregon State standout shared that his wife underwent in vitro fertilization, which included rounds of injections. Cooks saved hundreds of his wife injections and said in the special message “since you didn't trust me to administer the shots, I figured I would save them to show you my appreciation."

Over 200-plus IVF needles were displayed in the photo and in the middle were the words “worth every shot,” and a positive pregnancy test.

A post shared by Brandin Cooks (@thearcher) on May 10, 2020 at 9:50am PDT

Cooks and Briannon met while they were both attending Oregon State. Briannon was a cheerleader and Cooks was setting Pac-12 records for the Beavers. He finished his career at Oregon State with 128 receptions for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns.

When selected in the first round by the New Orleans Saints in 2014, Briannon was by his side. The two were later engaged in Hawaii in June 2017 and then married in Portland on July 7, 2018.

The Cooks family will get a fresh start in the Lone Star State in 2020 and add a much-welcomed addition to the family. Congratulations!

Be sure to check out the latest Talkin’ Beavers Podcast with host Ron Callan and special guest Oregon State softball head coach Laura Berg.

Agile perimeter prospect with versatility; manufactures shots and delivers from beyond the arc; mid-range game threat takes defenders off the dribble and scores in traffic; superb court awareness, passes with purpose; unselfish playmaker with skill set of a point-forward; an impact prospect in the class of 2021.